Deflector attachment for ventilating fans



June 30, 1942.

DEFLEGTOR ATTACHMENT FOR .VENTILATING FANS Filed Sept. 26, .1940

M INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS w. w. WELCH ETAL 7 2,288,307

Patented June 30, 1942 UNETED STATES QFElQn DEFLECTOR ATTACHMENT FOR VENTILAT- ING FANS William W. Welch, University City, Mo., and Benjamin Kahn, New York, N. 2.; said Kahn as- Signor to said Welch 7 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for ventilating fans and more particularly to universally applicable deflector attachments for diverting the air stream so as to eliminate the discomfort of direct blasts on the user commonly experienced with fans in general use.

The common run of household and oiiice ventilating fans of the oscillating or stationary type are each equipped with a blade guard frame. Most generally, these fans are designed to direct air through the guard frame in a direct comparatively high velocity stream from the front face of the blades as generated thereby. This direct stream is uncomfortable and often dangerous to health. In fact, the contraction of colds, chills and other ailments by users subject to such direct blasts is a common experience.

It is an object of this invention to provide a deflector and air distributor for eliminating such direct blasts which is capable of quick, easy attachment to the fan guards of such generally used fans without requiring structural changes in the fans or the removal of any parts therefrom.

Such a device or adapter must be capable of ready attachment and detachment to fan guards of various types and sizes and preferably should be capable of such attachment without requiring the use of tools.

Such a device, too, must be capable of deflecting the air or gas stream generated by the fan in such a manner as to cause redistribution and delivery of the generated stream for comfortable circulation without the annoyance or danger inherent in direct blasts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device meeting the foregoing requirements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which may be quantitatively manufactured at comparatively low cost.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and which shows, merely for the purposes of illustrative disclosure, preferred embodiments of the invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressing from the inventive idea.

In the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a power driven fan equipped with the novel detacha-ble deflector device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the fan with parts of the deflector device in vertical section to illustrate one manner of attachment thereof to the fan guard frame;

Fig. 3 is a front elevaticnal view of the novel deflector device;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of another form of ataching means adapted for attaching the deflector device to the fan guard; and

Figs. 5-1O inclusive are views similar to Fig. 4 of other modified forms of attaching means which may be used in place of those illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, H! denotes generally a fan equipped with a driving motor ll, serving to rotate the fan blades H. A fan guard l3 of open framework construction surrounding the blades is suitably supported in this position from the motor casing or in any other Way.

This guard It, in the embodiment shown, has the circumferential ribs 13a and the transverse spacing ribs [31) all suitably interconnected to form a rigid cylindrical frame which surrounds the blades 52 without interfering with their rotation. At its front, and in front of the blades, the frame suitably supports on front ribs I30 a center-piece or plate l5 which is in axial alignment with the drive shaft it of the fan motor Hi. This center-piece or plate E5, in the embodiment shown, has a convex outer surface |5a which may serve to receive a name plate or the like (not shown) of the device.

A removable deflector shell 25 is adapted to be removably but rigidly supported from the ribs of the guard frame 13. This deflector shell 2i] in the embodiment shown is flared and has the general 'frusto-ccnical shape seen clearly in section, Fig. 2, with a concave flaring side wall 2!. The end wall 22 of this shell is reentrantly curved to form a cavity 23 rimmed by the junction 24 of the side wall 2| and said end wall 22. The curvature of end wall 22 is such that the cavity 23 will receive and nest the convex face 25a of the plate 15 in a manner to be presently described. I'he other end of the shell is open, the curved side wall flaring outwardly from the end wall 22 to maximum diameter of the shell at this end Zia where the shell is beaded. This diameter is sufficiently large as to cause the deflection of substantially all the air or gas stream generated or developed by the fan blades I2. In the embodiment shown, this maximum shell diameter is the same or substantially the same as the spread of the fan blades I2. This shell diameter may, however, be greater or smaller than said spread, depending upon the spread of the fan blades but in all event, should be suflicient to divert or deflect the major portion of the gas or air stream generated by the blades from direct forward flow to the type of lateral flow illustrated by the arrows F in Fig. 2. The depth of the shell between its ends is such that the side wall 2| has a radius of curvature which will efliciently divert the axial air flow from the blades into lateral flow as shown.

Side wall 2| of the shell is provided with a plurality of indentations 25 facing in the direction of the end wall 22. The wall of each indentation 25 has a support receiving slot 26 extending substantially in the radial direction relative to the central axis of the shell and along the side wall 2|. The indentations or recesses 25 are equi-spaced relative to each other and concentric about the central axis of said shell. A second group of similar recesses 21 also facing in the direction of the end wall 22 is provided in the side wall 2I. These indentations 2'! have shapes similar to indentations 25. Likewise, each has a similar radially extending slot 28. Each is equi-spaced relative to the others, and all are concentric about the central axis of said shell, at a shorter distance therefrom than said first named indentations 25. In the embodiment shown, three indentations 25 spaced at 120 apart and three indentations 21 also spaced 120 apart and about 60 out of phase with indentations 25 are shown. Larger or smaller numbers of indentations of the same or other suitable shape may be provided and they may have different angular positions relative to each other.

Means are provided for attaching the deflector shell to the fan guard. These means may be of any of a number of forms illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4-10 inclusive. In Fig. 2, the attaching means comprises a clamping rod of metal or other suitable material. This rod 30 is provided at one end with a hook portion 3| and at its opposite end is threaded at 32. A clamping nut 33 is adapted to be screwed onto the threaded portion 32. This clamping nut 33 has an enlarged manipulating head 34 at one end and a convex surface 35 at its opposite end shaped complementally to that of the walls of the indentations 25 and 21. In the embodiment shown, the walls of indentations 25 and 21 are substantially herni-spherical in shape so that the end surfaces 35 of the nuts 33 may rotate therein forming in eifect a ball-like joint.

Attachment of the shell 20 to a fan guard frame is effected as follows:

A clamping rod 32 is inserted into each of the slots 26 or 28 and clamping nuts 33 screwed over onto the threaded portions. The end wall 22 of the shell is then centered and pressed against the plate I5 and the hooked end 3| of each rod is hooked over one of the ribs of the guard frame I3. The clamping nuts 33 are then tightened to cause the end wall 22 to press firmly against the plate I5 and rigidly clamp the shell 20 to the outer side of the frame in front of the fan blades.

The hemi-spherical shape of the indentations 25 and 21, the complemental shape of the engaging end 35 of the nuts 33 and the movability of the rods 32 in the slots and 28 make the rods self-positioning and permit them to be attached or hooked to frames of different sizes. If, for example, the frame ribs have a larger span than those shown in full lines, the rods 30 may be swung in the slots 26 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4, the clamping rod is the same. The clamping nut 33a has a straight end 35a. An auxiliary convex washer 35 is provided. This washer has a convex face 35a complemental to the shape of the indentations 25 and 21 which is adapted to lie between the wall of an indentation and the end 35a of the nut. Such washer has a straight face 362; which abuts the end 35a of the nut 33a. Application of a shell 25 to a fan guard frame is effected in the same way as that described with respect to the clamping device shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 5 a further modified form of attaching means is shown. This means comprises a clamping rod at. This rod is provided at one end with a hook 43. Intermediate its ends the body of the rod is threaded at 52. A sleeve nut 43 is mounted on the threaded portion prior to the attachment thereof to the shell. The opposite end 65 of one of these rods is inserted through each slot 25 and 28 of the shell 25. The said opposite ends of each rod are then looped at Ma and provided with cross pieces 45 to prevent their removal from the slots 26 and 28. They thus become permanently attached to the shell.

In applying a shell 25 equipped with such attaching means to a fan guard frame, the convex portion 22 of the shell is centered and pressed on the plate I5. Then the hooks 4| are caused to engage either the ribs I3a or I30. Then, the sleeve nuts 43 are screwed to cause their ends 43a to clamp the said ribs I3a or I30 between the ends 43a and the hooks II. The length of these clamping rods 40 is, .of course, so admeasured that engagement of the hooks 4| with the ribs I 3a and I31) and the clamping thereto causes proper tensioning and pressure of the shell against the plate I5 and rigid support of the deflector in front of the guard frame. This type of connection is suitable particularly for deflector shells adapted to be attached to a specified type of fan guard. The shell equipped at the factory with the attaching means 40 is supplied to the user for a specified type of fan.

In Fig. 6 a further modified form of attaching means more universally applicable is disclosed. This means is capable of adjustment for differently sized fans and is provided with tensioning means as well. The attaching means herein comprises a clamping rod 5|. This rod is threaded as its two ends at 5Ia and 5Ib and provided intermediate its ends with the reverse U-bends 52 and 53. The leg portions 52a, 53a of each bend may be spaced apart or in contact as shown. The bends 52 and 53 serve to introduce a spring or tensioning portion into the rod 5I An attaching sleeve nut 54 is adapted to be screwed onto the threaded portion 5Ia of the rod 5|. This nut at its outer end has a head 55 provided with a hooking slot or kerf 55. This slot or kerf 55 extends into the threaded bore 54a of the nut so that the latter may be screwed onto the threaded portion 5Ia sufiiciently to permit the end of said threaded portion 5Ia to extend into said slot and act as a clamp on the rib I3a or I30 of the guard frame which is engaged in said hooking slot 55. The opposite end 5| b of each rod is adapted to be inserted through a slot 25 or 28 of the shell 28 and to be engaged by a spherically shaped nut 51 whose radius of curvature is substantially the same as that of the indentations 25 and 21. In the embodiment shown this nut has a threaded bore 51a closed at its outer one end 511).

In application of a shell to a fan guard with the attaching means of Fig. 6, the hooking slots 56 of sleeve nut 54 are caused to engage ribs of the guard frame [3 and the sections 51a of the rods 5| tightly screwed into the hooking nuts 54 to clamp the ribs in said slots 56. The shell is then positioned, as previously described, with the ends 5") of members 5| projecting through the slots 26 and 28 to the front of the shell 26. The nuts 51 are then mountedand tightened over the said ends 521). The reverse U-bends 52, 53 in the members 5! act as springs for tensioning of the shell 20 to the guard ribs 13a or 130 and maintain secure attachment of the shell to the frame guard i3. It is to be noted that the spherical nut 5'! and the indentations or 21 form ball and socket joints permitting adjustment of the position of the members 5| to permit attachment to differently sized and shaped guard frames.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 the shell 20a has substantially the same shape as that of Fig. 2 except that the indentations of the latter have been eliminated and replaced simply by slots 26a located in substantially the same positions as the slots 25 and 28 of Figs. 1-3. The attaching means herein comprise an elongated wire or rod member having a hook 61 at its inner end. The other end of the member is adapted to project through a slot 25a and is looped at 63. A tensioning spring 54 is carried on the member 60 between the looped end 63 and the outer face of the shell Zea. This spring has conical spiral outline with its large diametered portion 64a bearing on the face of the shell. A suitable ornamental shell or rosette 65 suitably mounted on the shell 20a about each opening surrounds the spring 54 and may serve to partially conceal the latter from view. This rosette or shell 65 gives a decorative effect to the shell attaching means. These spring controlled mounting means may be suitably hooked to the frame ribs by the hooks 6! and serve to maintain the shell firmly attached under tension to the guard frame, the springs giving necessary tension to achieve firm mounting.

In the event that it is desired to make the tensioning springs invisible from the front of the shell deflector 28s, the mounting means of Fig. 8 may be substituted for that of Fig. '7. Herein the attaching means comprises an elongated rod or wire member 10 having a hook H at its inner end. The other end of the member 10 is adapted to project through the slot 26a and is looped at 13 in front of a washer 14. Intermediate its ends the member H is coiled at Ilia into a coil spring and this spring serves as the tensioning means in place of the spring 64 of Fig. '7. The location of spring 19a is behind the shell 20a so that it is invisible from the front of the shell 20a when the latter is mounted in place on the guard frame IS. The spring its is sufficiently strong to firmly hold the shell 20a to the guard frame when the hooks H engage the ribs of the frame and the end wall 22 abuts the plate [5.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the loop 63 of Fig. 7 is eliminated and the end 53a of the rod or wire member 68a threaded to receive a clamping nut I5 having decorative flanges 15a. This makes the device of Fig. 9 capable of ad justed tensioning wherever, because of a particular type of fan guard structure, it becomes necessary to have adjustability as well as tensioning features available.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the shell 2%, otherwise of the same shape as shell 29 has indentations 25a extending from the shell surface in the reverse direction to those of Figs. l-6 inclusive. These recesses or indentations are slotted at 26b in the same way and for the same purpose as are indentations 25 and 21, and are similarly located. The nuts 33 or 33a of Figs. 2 and 4 are replaced by the nuts which each have a concave end surface 805:. to receive the curved surfaces of the indentations 25a, These nuts have the ornamental flanges 89b to give a decorative effect to the shell 25?) at the attachment points. The attaching member may be either member 3%! of Figs. 2 and 4 or 51 of Fig. 6.

In all the embodiments shown, the shell, 28, 20a or 2% may be of metal, plastic composition or other suitable material. The other parts of the various attaching means may be of any suitable metal, plastic composition or the like capable of functioning in the requisite manner.

With shells like 29a, 2th or No applied to the guard frame i3 by one of the attaching means herein described, the direct air stream or blast from the blades 26 is diverted to lateral flow in all directions circumferentially of the outer rim 21a of the shells. This lateral flow distributes or circulates the air stream in all lateral directions and causes motion of the air in a. chamher in a circulatory manner which is comfortable and safe.

The attachment members render it possible to quickly attach or detach the shells from practicall any standard fan equipped with a guard frame without requiring tools and without requiring the removal of any fan or frame parts.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that variations are contemplated within the scope of the claims. No intention of limitation to the exact embodiments shown is intended.

We claim:

1. A detachable deflector device adapted for attachment to differently-sized guard frames of conventional electric fans in the path of direct stream flow generated thereby comprising a flared shell deflector having a closed end and a plurality of slotted equi-spaced indentations in a wall thereof, said indentations being partlyspherical in shape.

2. A detachable deflector device adapted for attachment to differently-sized guard frames of conventional electric fans in the path of direct stream flow generated thereby comprising a tubular deflector shell having a closed end wall, a concave side wall flaring from said end wall and a plurality of slotted, partly-spherical indentations in said side wall, the slots in said indentations extending radially.

3. A detachable deflector device adapted for attachment to differently-sized guard frames of conventional electric fans in the path of direct stream flow generated thereby comprising a tubular deflector shell having a reentrantly curved closed end wall, a concave side wall flaring from said end wall, a group of slotted concentrically arranged indentations in said side wall and a second group of slotted concentrically arranged indentations out of phase with said first group of indentations, said indentations of each group being partly-spherical in shape and the slots in each of said indentations being radially directed with respect to the axis of said shell.

4. A detachable deflector device adapted for attachment to differently-sized guard frames of conventional electric fans in the path of direct stream fiow generated thereby comprising a tubular deflector shell having a reentrantly curved end wall and a concave side wall flaring from said end wall, said side wall having a group of concentrically-arranged, spaced, curved indentations, and each of said indentations having a radially directed slot, attaching means comprising an elongated member extending through each slot, engaging means on one end of each of said elongated members for engaging an element of a guard frame, and clamping means adjustable on said elongated members, each such clamping means having a portion complemental in shape to that of said indentations to permit angular adjustment of each of said elongated members in the slots for attachment of said engaging means to elements of guard frames of differing sizes.

5. A detachable deflector device adapted for attachment to differently-sized guard frames of conventional electric fans in the path of direct stream flow generated thereby comprising a tubular deflector shell having a reentrantly curved end wall adapted to abut center pieces of said frames, and a concave side wall flaring from said end wall, said side wall having a first group of concentrically arranged, spaced indentations and a second group of concentrically arranged spaced indentations, and each of said indentations having a radially directed slot, attaching means comprising an elongated member extending through each slot, hooking means at one end of each of said elongated members for engaging elements of the guard frames, and clamping means adjustable with respect to said elongated members, each of said clamping means having a portion associated therewith which is complemental in shape to that of said indentations to permit angular adjustment of each of said elongated members in the slots for attachment of said hooking means to elements of guard frames of differing sizes.

6. In a device as per claim 4, in which spring means are associated with each of said elongated members for tensioning said deflector member with respect to the elements of the guard frames and for rigidly supporting said deflector mem ber therefrom.

7. A detachable deflector device adapted for attachment to differently-sized guard frames of conventional electric fans in the path of direct stream fiow generated thereby, comprising a tubular deflector shell having an end wall adapted to abut center pieces of said frames, and a concave side Wall flaring from said end Wall, said side Wall having a group of spaced, curved indentations each having a radially directed slot, attaching means comprising an elongated member extending through each slot, hooking means at one end of each of said elongated members for engaging elements of the guard frames, and clamping means adjustable with respect to said elongated members, each of said clamping means having a portion associated therewith which is complemental in shape to that of said indentations to permit angular adjustment of each of said elongated members in the slots for attachment of said hooking means to elements of guard frames of differing sizes.

WILLIAM W. WELCH. BENJAMIN KAI-IN. 

